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Post by wildman67 on Oct 31, 2007 14:32:27 GMT -5
I agree 502. You always go with the safety of the students first not with a wait to see what the fire dept would do mentality. It will also serve as part of a safety drill in case it was nothing. Whim, safety is always better than waiting for a fire to break out even in the middle of some minor test. You don't put the test before the safety of the students.
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Post by whimdriven on Oct 31, 2007 14:40:46 GMT -5
Not a minor test ... But like I've said, I'm biased.
Those who didn't stand a chance of going to college or were already trapped under the spell of the marauding military recruiters probably found the PSAT to be a "waste of time and effort." Although, testing in general, is good practice.
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Post by wildman67 on Oct 31, 2007 14:45:42 GMT -5
Actually, they don't have to take the PSAT test to get into college. They can go the fiancial aid route. You are biased in that you would rather the students take that test and in an emergency burn to death.
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Post by whimdriven on Oct 31, 2007 14:48:56 GMT -5
PSAT has absolutely nothing to do with federal aid. It does have to do with getting a nice talking point for your college app/resume and possibly a $25,000 college scholarship (although, I imagine that with inflation, that figure has grown).
No, I'm just biased because I was recognized by National Merit, that's all ... Hiring managers love that stuff too ...
I don't think anyone was ever truly at risk of "burning to death" as you so put ... You're doing a good job blowing it out of proportion, just like the media did ...
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Post by Fredo on Oct 31, 2007 14:54:03 GMT -5
Does anyone know where this "fire" was in relation to the students. It's proximity to the classrooms could be relevant.
Like it or not, these tests are important benchmarks these days and it would be silly to disrupt the process for a non event.
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Post by 502blue on Oct 31, 2007 15:03:46 GMT -5
Had it been a non-event, it wouldn't of been a problem. PSAT can be taken again for such instances. Only a select ffew do use it as a NMS qualifier. Those few are not more important than the many that could of been seriously injured. The schools also qualify for stuff depending where their schools rank....imagine that. So what was the risk? The asst. principal stated clearly on the 911 tape that they thought there was a fire in the wall. PERIOD. FIRE IN THE WALL. Then what are you waiting for? No one there was qualified to make the judgement call of whether to evacuate.
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Post by wildman67 on Oct 31, 2007 15:04:21 GMT -5
What I am saying is that the kids don't have to take that test just to get into college, Whim. There are other ways to go to college besides taking a minor test.
Fredo, the library is in the center of the classroom dome upper level. IF there was a fire in that dome, it would be best to evacaute that dome as fast as possible regardless of what the principal wanted.
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Post by kordax on Oct 31, 2007 15:08:14 GMT -5
Like it or not, these tests are important benchmarks these days and it would be silly to disrupt the process for a non event.
The College Board has experience with testing snafus throughout the country -- they've been administering these tests for for generations; the fact that a fire alarm disrupts a scheduled PSAT test is something that's happened many times before the Hixson non-evacuation -- I'm 100% certain of that. I'm not 100% certain that the principal knew what the priorities should have been when she made the call not to evacuate; the test could have re-scheduled but injured students couldn't get a re-do once they've been harmed.
And at the good private schools in the area, all 10th graders MUST take the PSAT's; no exceptions, no excuses. And Whim's spot on with the PSAT importance -- no takey testee, no elible for National Meritee.... It makes me sick every time I hear another account of public skool teachers minimizing the PSAT's because they're too ignorant or too indifferent to instill the importance of the test in their pupils' delicate psyches.
It's instructive in the local education debates to appreciate the seriousness that private schools have when it comes to their students performing well on national tests & they've been serious about testing for 30+ years before the NCLB Act. And the stock of parents who send their kids to privates are serious about their kids' test scores as well....
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Post by whimdriven on Oct 31, 2007 15:09:53 GMT -5
Dangerous things happen all the time at schools that don't provoke phone calls to fire or police officials. I find it laughable that people are getting all bent out of shape over this one ...
It was far more dangerous when the guy was stalking the Hixson High School student and then ended up committing suicide when the authorities were closing in ... anyone remember that one? Probably not. And in six months, you won't remember this "incident" either ...
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Post by con on Nov 1, 2007 19:55:48 GMT -5
The PSAT/NMSQT IS a major test for those who are looking to earn a National Merit Scholarship ... Please stop saying it's "not a major test." yeah... what's up with this 'dismissal' of the importance here, whim? sheesh.
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Post by con on Nov 1, 2007 19:57:34 GMT -5
Actually, they don't have to take the PSAT test to get into college. They can go the fiancial aid route. You are biased in that you would rather the students take that test and in an emergency burn to death. SAT scores have EVERYTHING to do with acceptance at a decent school.
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Post by whimdriven on Nov 1, 2007 20:58:50 GMT -5
I have done everything but come right out and say how I feel about the "dismissal" of importance, in the interest of keeping things civil. Some of those poo-poohing it wouldn't have had a snowball's chance in hell of qualifying for NMS anyways, if you catch my drift.
It's easy to dismiss things you couldn't possibly understand.
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Post by kordax on Nov 1, 2007 21:24:27 GMT -5
My kids took the SAT's every year starting in the 7th grade; by the time they were 11th graders, SAT's were old hat....
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Post by con on Nov 1, 2007 21:45:51 GMT -5
i would venture wonderment at how some of those snoballs got a HS diploma.
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Post by 502blue on Nov 2, 2007 6:54:06 GMT -5
I am not dismissing the importance. BUT which is more important? Safety of kids, when in fact they stated on the call to 911 that THOUGHT there was a fire in the walls, or the PSAT which can be re-taken. Remember, they stated on the 911 tape, they thought they had a real fire. AND if most parents police the importance of their childs education, they would already have PSATs and SATs under their belts. Mine does.
I would prefer to know my children are safe and all is being done to protect them when I am not able to.
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Post by 502blue on Nov 2, 2007 6:59:38 GMT -5
i would venture wonderment at how some of those snoballs got a HS diploma. and whom on this thread are you curious to how they got their HS diplomas, COn? Here are the ones who have posted: Myself Fredo Baloo Coffeeshooter Kordax HillCityTN Yourself and Whim. So ask which few of us are you curious to how we graduated. Go ahead. I myself graduated from Notre Dame, with honors. Sometimes I think you have zero common sense. Especially when posting about matters which you usually don't have a ball in the court. You have no kids and you don't live here. So tell me, what makes you the expert on what is important when it comes to being a parent COn.
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Post by con on Nov 2, 2007 11:20:44 GMT -5
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Post by 502blue on Nov 2, 2007 11:24:25 GMT -5
yep, you poked again really well, with the "like to know how those snowballers got their HS diplomas".
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Post by con on Nov 2, 2007 12:44:07 GMT -5
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Post by Fredo on Nov 2, 2007 13:18:46 GMT -5
Somehow, I knew that poking smiley would be popular.
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Post by con on Nov 2, 2007 14:24:32 GMT -5
that's all i can say.
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Post by CoffeeShooter on Nov 2, 2007 14:25:36 GMT -5
is there one that pokes back?
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Post by con on Nov 2, 2007 21:38:34 GMT -5
nah... she pokes.... i'm not poking back.
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Post by whimdriven on Nov 3, 2007 10:48:10 GMT -5
You know Chris, if she smokes, she pokes.
-Lois Griffin
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Post by tcrashfx on Nov 3, 2007 20:39:41 GMT -5
To bad they didn't have English when you were there.
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